Awarded Leukemia Lymphoma Society's Man of the Year in 2012, Saw Mill Club's Mervyn Tugendhaft has organized various fund-raisers to help contribute to the society. Photo Credit: ContributedOne of the fund-raisers Tugendhaft organized, Train the Trainer, raised more than $5,000.Photo Credit: Contributed In 2013, Tugendhaft organized a Zumba Dance Party as a fund-raiser to contribute to the cause.Photo Credit: Contributed

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- After his wife was affected by cancer, Saw Mill Club's Assistant Fitness Director Mervyn Tugendhaft had the idea to organize two fund-raisers, "Train the Trainer" and a Zumba Dance Party to help support the Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS).

"It all started a few years ago, when I had a crazy idea and organized the first Train the Trainer event to help support the Leukemia Lymphoma Society," said Tugendhaft.

"This event would give clients the opportunity to make a bid, with the winning bidder the chance to train a trainer for a full hour, and do whatever they wanted. Not realizing what I had started, and not knowing the “vindictive” side of our clients, who at the high end, contributed more than $1,000 per session to train a trainer."

As of today, Tugendhaft raised more than $159,000 over several events for the LLS, and became Leukemia Lymphoma Society's Man of the Year in 2012.

"The cause to find a cure is extra important to me, since a close family member has been battling lymphoma for more than 10 years," said Tugendhaft.

"While research has progressed and new treatments and drugs are available to patients, there are incredible costs associated with every step forward. Nobody can predict when they or a family member is going to need the help of advanced treatment that is created with the help of LLS, as I found out this year when my wife was battling breast cancer."

In 2013, Saw Mill Club awarded Tugendhaft and Zumba instructor Michela Ford the opportunity to do a Zumba Dance Party fund-raiser in the club to raise money for LLS. Together, they raised more than $8,000.